By: In “Riding the Yield Curve,” I discuss the benefits of a steep yield curve for the fixed income investor using Treasury securities as an example. As I mentioned in my previous article, the yield curve depicts the relationship between interest rates and the time to maturity for a bond. While a steep yield curve can act as an embedded hedge against losses should interest rates rise, it is important to note that the shape of the yield curve can change.
In what is usually considered a normal state, the yield curve is upward sloping with debt securities maturing further out in time having higher yields than those with shorter terms (time to maturity). However, there have been several occasions in which the yield curve for U.S. government securities has inverted, which means shorter-term maturities are yielding more than longer-term maturities. In addition, the steepness of the curve can and often does change. As you might expect, both an inverted yield curve and a change in the steepness of the yield curve changes the effectiveness of the embedded hedge discussed in “Riding the Yield Curve.”
How might a yield curve change? Here are four ways:
Bull Flattener
A bull flattener occurs when longer-term interest rates are falling at a faster pace than shorter-term rates. This flattens the yield curve as the spread between shorter- and longer-term rates narrows. Under this scenario, even though the yield curve would be flattening, it would be a positive for an investor who took a position in, say, a 10-year Treasury hoping to ride the yield curve. The reason is that as longer-term rates fall, the price of the note would rise.
Bear Flattener
A bear flattener occurs when shorter-term interest rates are increasing at a faster pace than longer-term rates. This flattens the yield curve as the spread between shorter- and longer-term rates narrows. Under this scenario, it would be a negative for an investor who took a position in intermediate to longer-term Treasuries with the hope of riding the yield curve. This is because rates would be rising (prices falling) and the yield curve would be flattening at the same time, thereby creating a double whammy for the investor. Traditionally, the biggest risk of this occurring comes during a time when the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates. If you are looking to use a steep yield curve to your advantage, it will be important to follow closely any possible changes to the Fed’s stated intentions with regard to short-term interest rate changes through its public forecasts.
Bull Steepener
A bull steepener occurs when short-term interest rates are falling at a faster pace than longer-term rates. This steepens the yield curve as the spread between shorter- and longer-term rates rises. This scenario would create a double positive for the investor looking to ride the yield curve as bond prices would be increasing at the same time the yield curve would be steepening.
Bear Steepener
A bear steepener occurs when longer-term interest rates are increasing at a faster pace than shorter-term rates. This steepens the yield curve as the spread between shorter- and longer-term rates rises. The magnitude of the move in longer-term rates would determine the consequences for the investor attempting to ride the yield curve. This is because the spread between shorter- and longer-term rates would be rising (good for riding the curve), but longer-term rates would be increasing (a negative for longer-term bond prices).
Of course, various combinations of these four flatteners/steepeners could also occur.
For instance, it is conceivable to have short-term rates rising slightly with long-term rates declining if the Federal Reserve were to conduct Operation Twist on a massive scale. If you are an investor interested in using the yield curve to your advantage, it is important to understand the various ways in which and various reasons why the curve might steepen or flatten over time. Keep the four types of changes mentioned above in mind when working through your projections for future yield curve steepness.
About “The Financial Lexicon”
I am an investor/trader with nearly nine years experience in the financial world. I have experience investing in and trading equities, options, and a variety of fixed income and alternative investment products. I also write for SeekingAlpha.com.
More from “The Financial Lexicon”
Income Investing Insider Newsletter
The 5 Fundamentals of Building a Retirement Portfolio
Options Strategies Every Investor Should Know
Venturing Into the World of Junk Bonds
Top 5 Part High Yield Part Investment Grade Bonds
Trusted & Regulated Stock & CFD Brokers
What we like
- 0% Fees on Stocks
- 5000+ Stocks, ETFs and other Markets
- Accepts Paypal Deposits
Min Deposit
$200
Charge per Trade
Zero Commission on real stocks
64 traders signed up today
Visit Now67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Available Assets
- Total Number of Stocks & Shares5000+
- US Stocks
- German Stocks
- UK Stocks
- European
- ETF Stocks
- IPO
- Funds
- Bonds
- Options
- Futures
- CFDs
- Crypto
Charge per Trade
- FTSE 100 Zero Commission
- NASDAQ Zero Commission
- DAX Zero Commission
- Facebook Zero Commission
- Alphabet Zero Commission
- Tesla Zero Commission
- Apple Zero Commission
- Microsoft Zero Commission
Deposit Method
- Wire Transfer
- Credit Cards
- Bank Account
- Paypall
- Skrill
- Neteller
What we like
- Sign up today and get $5 free
- Fractals Available
- Paypal Available
Min Deposit
$0
Charge per Trade
$1 to $9 PCM
Visit Now
Investing in financial markets carries risk, you have the potential to lose your total investment.
Available Assets
- Total Number of Shares999
- US Stocks
- German Stocks
- UK Stocks
- European Stocks
- EFTs
- IPOs
- Funds
- Bonds
- Options
- Futures
- CFDs
- Crypto
Charge per Trade
- FTSE 100 $1 - $9 per month
- NASDAQ $1 - $9 per month
- DAX $1 - $9 per month
- Facebook $1 - $9 per month
- Alphabet $1 - $9 per month
- Telsa $1 - $9 per month
- Apple $1 - $9 per month
- Microsoft $1 - $9 per month
Deposit Method
- Wire Transfer
- Credit Cards
- Bank Account
Share
The Financial Lexicon
